Wichita eagle., 1887-10-26
THE CIRCUS BLACKS.

Ihe 4Aat tllle sa" fUSSy black she was
tobogganing in buffers tray down the golden
stairs of tho Mansion house at San Francisco.
As tobogganing was not at that time a fash
1onable past:me in the states, I concluded that
Miss Pussy bad evolved this novel au11,se-
ment from the depths of her own Inischievous
CONSCIOUSNESS. Being o sad and uroniscuous
6irt, eTen nj the age OF 10, she had doubtless
done the Delilah act by the head waiter in
order TO obtain possession of the buffers tray,
However this may have been, her tobog-
gaming was scarcely q success Sha bumped,
bumped, down half dozen stairs with q de-
hghtful grin on her small countenauce. Then
alasl A yell and a shrek, a vision Of long
red legs and flying yellow hair, a RAPIDLY
descending confusion Of youthful anatonY:
and another bump. This time i yras P,Issy,s
head that came in contact with the hard floor
at the foot Of the stairs.
asked the youngster where She vas hurt
as she lay back in my arms with cl5-ed eyes,
and she touched enc dimpled hand 10 ker fore
head. The chambermaid brought vater. and
bathed tie poor forehead, and tlel kissed
the place to make it well. Then I Kissed IL
again, because L somehow thought mat Miss
Pussy liked being kissed by 2 Gown I'D
mustache / kissed her third time because
rather enjoyed the performance myself.
"A coquettish smiio appeared Oh Pussys
rosy mouth, and nay vanity took alarm.
felt that the little fiirt was deliberately lead
ing me on. 1 turned tho injured innocent
over TO the tender mercies Of the chamber
maid, ami sailed forth to keep a business an
pointinent connected with the min!u,. inter-
ests that had brought me out to California.
a few days later was at party given TO
celebrate the birthday of a little girl who was
she only daughter of ore Of the richest mining
fnen in San francisco. 1t was a good Old fash
Toned American party, where old and young
minEle in the Virginia reel and round the fes-
tive bowl-ot lemonade. came across a very
agreeable woman Of handsome middle aoed
presence, who knew her California like a
book, and told mo who all tho queer people
were. Sure OK her own pedigree, which was
CT the best South Carolina brand, she could
afford to be cynical on the subject OF Pacific
Coast ancestry. She watched the new arrivals
through on imposing tortoise shell eyeglass
and Checked them of one by one for my bene-
ht in vein OF gentle sarcasm
T. "Aha! Hero come the Circus Blacks.n
said Mrs Penderlp, calling my attention to
group proceeding toward US from the direc-
ton Of tho door. "What superb diamonds
hirS. Black wearsi And Just TO thinl, that her
notheTused 20 keep a stall in the market. with
pipe in her mouth and her head tied I'D in a
red handkerchief I've bought many caul-
flower or her myself"
"Why do You call them the Circus Blaclys9n
asked
Everybody knows them by that name
partly, suppose, because they act and dress
as ii they belonged to a circus, and I have
heard a legend TO the effect that Mrs. Black
once Travelled with circus. Black. first saw
her when she WIS performing her great bare
back feat on Il couple Of wild steeds at Sacra-
tnentc, where he kept a tailor's shop. He got
into mines after he WAS married and that's
how be made his money"
At this moment the Circns Blacks swept by
rs in solemn and stately procession. There
really was something about them that sug-
gested tic grand entveo" Of q well regulated
circus company opening the performance, the
crack OF the ringmaster's whip being repre-
scented by tho sarcastic click Of Mrs Fender
lips eyeGlass.
Mr.. black was q short, stout man with q
stubhy beard. His bald spot just came I'D to
Mrs Blacks magnificent diamond necklace.
Mrs Black was unquestiouably fine figure
OF woman. Plump, black haired, rosy
checked, in her yellow satin train almost
covered with point lace, end with tie upper
portion os her vigorous frame dressed chiefly
in diamonds. she looked very goddess Of |
bullion.
Behind lIr. and Mrs. Black walked two
littlo girls. Ono was about "a, dark. plain
and Sowing, dressed IN pea green silk, with
her balr il piGtails, and horrible red, coral
necklace reposing on her collSr bone, like tho
mark of the hangman's rope Tho younger
girl was blonde, smiling and couuettish. Tho
real NalenCiennes petticoat ARRANGEMENT.
which she worc over light blue silk slip, |
stopped sho-t above her knees. Her infcntlIe |!
and very bare bosom sustained several rows !
Of costly pearls, and In her cars she had large.
single diamonds, which cleaned against her !
yellow locks.
am only man, ard consequently not |
posted in details Of female attire; but I |
gathered tho impression that tho Younger
Miss Black was, TO put it mildly, irsu1icienty /
clad. i was pleased for her sake that the !
room was warm. Apparently, my views were !
shared by hrs Penderlip.
rJust look at Pussy Black" she exclaimed, |
in horrifed tone. "She looks like ballet /
girl or a circus rider. The story about her
mother Inuss be true. They say blood will |
tell Those long, silk stockings ct Ike tights"
Miss Pussy Black turned her pretty head at !,
that moment ard caught my admiring eye.
She smiled, in sweet and not Gispieased sur
prise, nnd recognized the interesting young
heroine OF the amateur tobogganing episode.
When the royal progress Of the Circus
Blacks "-s ovar, when Pussy's papa was tax
ing his whisky straight, in company with
other mining miluoraires in q retired corner
OF the "ralatlal mansion" when PuSys
mamma was discussing. servants wages with
the proudeSt matrouags Of glorious Califor-
MIA, looked for Miss Pussy with intent TO
claim her hand in the giddy visit. I found
her sitting IN 4 corner with q dozen youthful |
dandies. ia pumps and fries, about her. She
was Queriug 1t with right coed viii, and |
there VS. not female creature within
twen,y .-c. of her. She had learned thus
early L. >nenSe VITA chaperonCs.
Miss Pussy affected Indifference toward me
at frs wsA coquesry that WAS quite ms
ture: u,- her vanity was essutiy kindled
by the Ia. usht OF being tho object Ct grown
up ast,i. OBS, and the little dancing school
boys w,rc cent about their business. We
danced end firted, and pulled those Swapping
turtle things which 60 perennial duty ct chill
dren's parties, and exchanged notices and
even pledged each other in champagne.
limited to Miss Pussy that should like to
make the acquaintance Of her mother in or
der to be able to call upon herself Pussy
only opened her blue eyes wide and said, de-
murely:
@Ob, you needn't mind ma Ihava nlAnr>